Elkhart, IN – The Patriots men's swimming team enters the 2026 NAIA National Championships look for their fifth consecutive top-five team finish after an incredible season. Cumberlands enters these championships with 14 competitors, which is the third most by any school, and has 21 marks that rank in the top eight of their respective events.
 
UC posted an 7-1 dual meet record on the season before setting a new MSC Championship record with 982 points while capturing their eighth consecutive Mid-South Conference title.  Cumberlands had been one of the most consistent teams throughout the season with five student-athletes garnering NAIA Swimmer & Diver of the Week honors and breaking seven school records.
 
The Patriots will kick off nationals with the 200 medley relay and the 800 free relay taking part on Wednesday.  Cumberlands enters these championships seeded second in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:28.69 that they did at their mid-season meet.  The Patriots are also ranked sixth in the 800 ree relay with a mark of 6:45.81.
 
Alexander Poulsen, Titouan Bernot, and Ruthiik Satti are ranked in the top eight in each of their three individual events.  Poulsen, the reigning MSC Swimmer of the Year, enters the championship with the second fastest time in the 50 free (19.69) and the 100 fly (47.76), while his 43.57 in the 100 free is ranked third in the NAIA.  All three of those marks are new school records this season.
 
The reigning MSC Freshman of the Year, Bernot, shattered UC's 200 free record as he clocked a 1:36.66, which is the fastest time in the NAIA this season.  The Nancy, France native also holds the third fastest 500 mark, touching the wall in 4:29.25 and is ranked eighth in the 100 free with a time of 44.70.
 
Satti continues to be one of UC's most consistent swimmers' year-in and year-out and this season has been no exception.  The senior enters the championship ranked fourth in 100 back (48.69).  Satti is also ranked fifth in the 100 fly (48.68) and sixth in the 200 back (1:48.560).  Teammate Brandon Holding is ranked in the top-five in both backstroke events.  The freshman's time of 1:47.07 in the 200 back ranks second in the NAIA, while he is also ranked fifth in the 100 back (48.92).
 
Fabrizio Pacioni broke the 400 IM school record at the Mid-South Conference Championship when he clocked a 3:53.57, which is the second fastest time in the NAIA this season.  The freshman is also ranked fourth in the 200 IM (1:49.09) and will compete in the 200 breast alongside teammate Jeremiah Koenig. 

Cumberlands continues to have depth in sprint free events as Adam Geddis and Arvid Farro are both ranked top-20 in all three events.  Geddis' time of 44.44 in the 100 free ranks fourth in the NAIA, while he is also seeded eighth in the 200 free (1:39.43) and tenth in the 50 free (20.38).  Farro holds the ninth fastest 50 free clocking a 20.38, while he is also ranked in the top-20 of both the 100 free (44.94) and the 200 free (1:41.39). 

The Patriots will lean on veteran Leon Irmer in the 100 breast as he's currently ranked seventh with a time of 54.99. 
 
UC's depth will also be on display in the 200 free fly with a trio of competitors that swept the podium at the MSC Championships.  Conference champion Josh Riegler leads the group with a 1:50.05, followed by Juan Pablo Ramirez Zapata at 1:50.12 and Zsombor Bene with a 1:50.67.  The trio is ranked top-15 heading into this week.  Ramirez Zapata is also ranked top-20 in both the 200 & 400 IM, while Riegler holds the 17^th fastest time in the 100 fly. 

In the distance free events, Sergio Saldamando Martinez and Will Gilbert will compete in both the 500 and 1650 free.  Saldamando Martinez is seeded ninth in the 1650 free, while Gilbert is looking to capture All-American honors in his senior year.

In addition to the individual events, the Patriots are ranked in the top-four in the 400 medley relay, 200 free relay, and the 400 free relay, which will be contested over the final three days of the meet.  Cumberlands has already set new school records in both the 200 free and 400 free relays earlier this season.
 
The NAIA Championship kicks off tonight at 5 p.m. with the relays.  Fans can catch all the action from Elkhart, IN here.
 
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